The Baltic Power wind farm being built by Orlen and Northland Power is one of the most advanced offshore wind projects in Polish Baltic waters. The energy it produces is expected to allow it to meet the energy needs of more than 1.5 million households. An important construction phase, crucial for achieving the connection of the power-generating turbines to the power grid, was recently completed. Significantly, the investors are concerned not only with Baltic’s ability to serve us as a provider of clean energy, but also with ensuring that the pursuit of this goal does not interfere with the environment.
Baltic Power – the first well has been drilled
Thanks to a borehole drilled near Lubiatow, we are getting closer to finalizing the construction of a tunnel in which a cable will be laid to connect Baltic Power to an onshore substation responsible for transferring energy produced at sea to the power grid. Thus, the tunnel is essential for clean electricity generated in the Baltic to flow to consumers’ outlets.
More boreholes are underway, and an interesting guided drilling technology is being used to drill them, which allows the tunnel to be drilled virtually without digging up the soil. This is a solution gaining considerable popularity in Poland – especially when laying fiber-optic cables or constructing sewer or water pipes – but this is the first time it has been used on such a large scale.
Tunnel construction without interfering with nature
In any case, as Baltic Power’s investor also emphasizes, the construction of the tunnel is being carried out with the least possible interference with the environment. Besides, the excavated material obtained from the ongoing construction work will be used for the reconstruction of the beach damaged by winter storms. Of course, before making a decision in this regard, the excavated sand was tested to check its purity.
Thus, it can be assumed that the investors are doing everything possible to ensure that the construction of the Baltic Power offshore wind farm interferes as little as possible with the environment. Anyway, this particular wind farm is no exception. Those responsible for the execution of other offshore wind projects act in a similar manner. Besides, the investors are working together to achieve the best possible “environmental” results for their projects.
